One popular New Year’s resolution is getting more exercise, so many people sign up for the gym or get out into the world to work on cardio. More than a month into 2025, as many people find that their resolutions may be slipping away from them or maybe just finding themselves giving up altogether, consider giving the local ParkRun a try.

“A group of friends were like, ‘We want to measure how fast we’re doing in our 5K,’ and so they had some volunteers keep time and it sort of caught on and it evolved into this global movement,” said Sarah Gredalda, a volunteer at the Renton ParkRun near the Renton Community Center.

An international organization where anyone can use a designated space to walk or jog their way through 5K for free every Saturday morning, ParkRun has half a dozen locations throughout Washington state, the three south King County locations being in Des Moines, Renton and near Snoqualmie.

A 5K is a long-distance running competition that is the distance of five kilometers, or 3.1 miles. A popular road running event for people who are new to running or people who prefer to jog, the 5K is an excellent option for exercise. At ParkRun, the runner, jogger or walker can train however they like — be it to try and get their best possible time or to just say that they can get through a 5k — while relying on volunteers to help with keeping their times, assistance on the trail or just giving encouragement and being supportive.

“Our mission as a whole would be for movement and getting active outdoors in our community,” said Gredalda. “I came back out and volunteered because I wanted to be more social and it’s really positive. It’s so exciting to see people accomplish their goals.

Some people are doing like a ‘Couch to 5K,’ they’re going from walking and they’re gradually progressing and they’re seeing their progress each week and for others, this is part of their training for 10Ks and marathons.”

Beginning promptly at 9 a.m., the first ParkRun of 2025 in Renton kicked off with close to 100 people as the starter signal went off and volunteers with cowbells cheered them on. The Renton course is an out-and-back setup on the Cedar River Trail that meets and operates near the I-405 overpass.

While many were serious runners, with carefully chosen shoes and all the necessary accessories, others were there to just run or walk with others, some even bringing their kids and strollers along. Some runners even brought their dogs, to have a companion while they run, to get the dog’s own energy out or maybe to help tug their owner along. (Reporter’s note: This is the main reason I like to take my dog out on a jog.)

Though the weekly event is completely free, registration is required to participate. When runners or walkers show up, they just need to remember their scannable barcode to each session, which will help volunteers record running times and keep track of each participant’s progress.

For Hannah Haag, a middle school cross-country runner who lives in south Seattle, that Saturday was her and her mom’s first time trying out ParkRun.

“It was tiring but it was fun,” she said.

For more information on a local ParkRun location, either as a runner, walker or a volunteer, visit parkrun.us.

Volunteer Sarah Gredalda (right) waits for runners to cross the finish line and record their times. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.

Pushing a stroller is allowed at ParkRun.

Right at 9 a.m. every Saturday, runners and walkers are off at ParkRun. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.